How to pick the best affiliate networks. If you’ve started looking into affiliate programs, you’ve probably run into an alphabet soup of network names and felt a little overwhelmed.
Let’s clear that up simply, without the jargon.
An affiliate network is essentially a program that connects you with companies that want affiliates.
They handle the tracking of your links and clicks and pay you out.
Instead of you having to negotiate a direct deal with every single brand you want to recommend.
Amazon Associates is usually the first one people hear about, and for good reason.
It’s easy to join and covers almost any physical product you’d ever want to recommend.
People already trust buying from Amazon, which removes a lot of friction.
The tradeoff is that commission rates are relatively low, often in the 1-4% range.
Depending on the category, the tracking cookie window is short — typically 24 hours.
Meaning that if someone doesn’t buy within a day of clicking your link, you don’t get credit even if they buy later.
How to Pick the Best Affiliate Networks
AWIN and Impact are broader networks that host thousands of brands across countless niches.
Everything from software to clothing to online courses.
These often have higher commission rates than Amazon, sometimes 10-30% or more for digital products, and longer cookie windows, sometimes 30-90 days.
The tradeoff is that you have to apply to individual brand programs within the network.
And some have approval requirements around your traffic or content quality.
For software and digital tools specifically, many companies run their own direct affiliate programs rather than going through a big network.
This is common in the “make money online” and business tools space, which is directly relevant if you’re in that niche.
These often have the best commission rates of all, sometimes 20-50% recurring commissions for subscription software.
You get paid every month as long as the customer you referred stays subscribed, not just on the initial sale.
How to Pick the Best Affiliate Networks
So how do you actually pick where to start?
Don’t try to join everything at once.
Start with the products you’d genuinely recommend regardless of commission, and find out which network or program hosts them.
If you’re in the WFH and business opportunities space, that often means looking at direct programs for specific tools:
- Job platforms
- Course creators
- Software you actually use
- Physical products, like office equipment or productivity tools
- Or something that comes up naturally in your content.
One thing worth knowing before you get excited about a high commission percentage:
- A 50% commission on a $10 product is still only $5.
- A 10% commission on a $500 software subscription is $50.
- And if it’s recurring…
- That’s $50 every month the customer stays.
Percentage alone doesn’t tell you what matters.
Do the actual math on dollar amount per sale.
And factor in whether it’s a one-time payout or a recurring one.
Before deciding what to prioritize promoting.
This post covered just a few of the many networks or programs.
If you’re considering joining one, then good luck.
For more information, feel free to read my other blog posts here.
Sheldon Mohl